Mop wringing mechanism



P 1964 A. F. FUNGAROLI 3,150,400

MOP VEIRINGING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 1963 INVENTOR. ANTHONY F. FUNGAROLI BY 12m ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 0 3,15%,466 BEQP wnnsouvo l iECHANEhi Anthony 1 Fungaroii, 46 Graves St, Northampton, Mass. Filed Sept. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 369,979 1 (Ilaim. (Cl. 15-259) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in a self-wringing mop mechanism. It is directed more particularly to the provision of a manually-reciprocable device for compressing or wringing out the water absorbent mopping element of a floor mop whereby all unwanted liquids present therein may be removed therefrom with ease and facility.

Broadly speaking, the invention envisions a yoke-ty e mop wringing mechanism comprising a pair of outer frame members circumscribing at one end a hand engaging means, and carrying spring loaded half-ring jaws at their opposite ends, which jaws are of appropriate size for encirclement around and compression of the mopping element of a floor mop as the mop wringing mechanism is moved downwardly along the mop handle or stall.

The improved device hereof is designed to be carried by the handle or stafi of the mop in position for immediate use but so that, when not in use, it offers no obstruction to the free employment of the mop as such for serving the normal function thereof.

According to this invention, the improved mop wringer takes the form of a gripping device adapted to be mounted upon and to be moved along the handle or staff of the mop into and out of its operative position with respect to the mop proper.

In use, the device is engaged with the mop and held against rotation while the handle of the mop is turned about its own axis so as to allow a squeezing of the mop by a twisting action, if desired. Alternatively, the device may be twisted while the mop is held against rotation, or both the mop and the device may be twisted in opposite directions each relative to the other.

One main purpose of my invention is to provide a self wringing mop which will embody a handle construction having the component parts thereof arranged in telescopic relation whereby they may be reciprocated relative to each other to facilitate manipulation of the mop and in manner whereby the mop component may be brought into tension between certain cooperant members so as to extract the water therefrom in order substantially to dry the same. That is, the device may comprise a sleeve or socket having a free sliding fit on the handle of the mop, and a pair of grippers held relative to said sleeve in spaced relationship therewith and in pivotal relation thereto and normally held in the closed position by means of springs. The grippers may be opened prior to sliding the device into operating position, when, on being released, the grippers close on the mop proper and hold it firmly against relative movement whilst the mop handle is totated to give a wringing twist to the mop.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel extracting mechanism comprehending a yoke carrying tensioned jaw or gripping members for engaging opposite sides of the strand component during the forward ex tracting pass of the mechanism. The extracting operation is controlled by a sleeve slideable on the mop handle.

Another object is to provide a device of the class set forth, wherein a mechanical means is employed for squeezing or wringing water out from the mopping cloth or head of the device, and its operation is to be readily and easily accomplished without undue exertion on the part of the operator.

A further object is to provide a mop structure as hereinbefore characterized, which embodies the additional advantage that the mopping cloth or head may be reice tained within a somewhat enclosed or confined condition against becoming unduly soiled, or otherwise unfit for immediate use during periods of non-use.

As another object hereof, I provide a mop-wringing appliance in the form of a yoke with spring-loaded jaws or grip ers, such that the whole wringing apparatus can be rawn along the mop handle or staff and relative to the mopping element, whenever wringing out of moisture is to be realized.

Another salient feature hereof is to provide a device of the character described having convenient release means therefor, whereby the mop-wringing appliance may be held either in the opened or closed position, as desired, and which appliance may be either applied to or removed from the handle and mopping element with equal facility.

Anot er object is to provide a mop-wringing mechanism of the above mentioned type particularly adapted for quick and easy use, and which will allow a smoothness in operating and an ease in handling with a minimurn of need for manual adjustment and which permits of longcontinued use with a minimum of need for repair or main enance, to result in important distinct advantages in economy of manufacture, ease of operation, reliability of performance, and capability of ready assembly to provide positiveness and ease of manual control and action under the varying conditions of practical use.

As yet another feature, 1 provide a wringing mechanism so constructed that the mopping component may be so withdrawn as to cause to be removed water or other iquid therefrom in a single-stroke squeezing motion.

As viewed in another way, the invention may be defined as envisioning a yoke-type mop-wringing device having a tubular handle sleevable upon and reciprocable relative to a mop handle or stall, and having annular spring-loaded jaws or grippers integral therewith for effecting the removal of liquids from the mop component.

Another important object hereof is the provision of an improved construction capable of being molded or formed in an inexpensive manner and requiring a minimum number of tools or dies for its production, with the structure being such as to permit accelerated quantity production thereof.

To the end of attaining these objects and advantages and others hereinafter reasonably appearing, it is to be explained that the invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, configuration, location and function of parts, as herein described in detail. It will be apparent, however, that the physical embodiment delineated, albeit the preferred exemplification, is only indicative of but one of the multiplicity of ways in and purposes for which the principles of the invention may be employed. Same is submitted as a best lmown embodiment of the invention in accordance with the patent statutes and is given with a view illustrating and explaining the precise nature of the principles of the invention and their embodiment for practical use, in order that others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains may be enabled to adapt and modify them in numerous variations id modifications, each as may be best adapted to the conditions of any particular use.

With the foregoing and other equally important objects and advantages in view, the invention resides in the certain new and useful combination, construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the appended claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURES 1-3 are small scale side elevational views illustrating the manner of employment of the self-wringing mop mechanism of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the mop wringing mechanism of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged end elevational View of my 2,1 eases mop wringing mechanism, with the spring-loaded jaws being showninclosed position;

spring return means of the invention, with parts omitted half-ring jaws or gripping members 2 3 and 22 pivoted to' laterally-outwardly and downwardl -extending ring extensions 24 and 26 respectively provided at their opposite lower ends.

Frame members 14 and 16 will preferably but not obligatorily be joined as by Welding or the like, and will be restrained against separation as by rings 28 sleeved thereon, which rings may be in the form of fine wire wrapped tightly therearound.

Half-ring jaws 20 and 22 are movable between opened and closed positions relative to the respective ring Vextensions 24 and 26 as will hereinafter appear.

' Yoke It may be formed from plastic, in which case it will be molded asa unitary structure, or it may be fabricated from a strong, light-weight metal, as desired.

Half-ring jaws 2G and '22 will preferably be formed from metal, although not necessarily so, and are provided with brackets 30 and 32, respectively, each bracket being comprised of a pair of spaced, parallel arms 34, 34 extenLging. laterally outwardly therefrom and integral therewr A depending end portion 36 of ring-extension 24 extends loosely through vertically-aligned openings provided in arms 34 of bracket 3%, and a depending end portion 38 of ring-extension 26 similarly extends loosely through vertically-aligned opening provided in arms 34 of bracket 32 wherefore each half-ring jaw is pivotally mounted relative to its respective ring-extension.

A coil spring 40 is sleeved upon each said end portion 36 and SSbetween the arms 34 of brackets 30 and- 32.

Springs 40 each have a free end 4?. bearing against its respective bracket 3i) or 32, and have an opposite end 44 receivable in an elongated vertically-extending slot 45 provided in the lower end or" each end portion 36 and 38 of ring-extensions 24 and 26 respectively, thus insuring the return of the half-ring jaws from the opened position shown in FIGURE 6 to the closed position in FIGURE 5.

A nut 48 preferably formed from plastic and having a a smooth bore is disposed in the manner of a press fit on each said end portion 36 and 38 and embraces the lower arm 34 of brackets 3i and 32 wherefore the half-ring jaws are held firmly in position upon their respective ringextensions. Alternatively, of course, nuts 48 could be formed from metal and could have a threaded connection with end portions 36 and 38.

Half-ring jaws 2t} and 22 are bevelled as at 59 adjacent tially flat, unbroken plane in the closed position thereof,

in which position said ends of each half-ring jaw 7 their ends in order that the rings may assume a substanmaterial with a cotton or nylon core, and are carried a mop head connected to the handle or a continuation of the handle. Itis to be noted that my invention may be utilized to particular advantage with floor mops of the so-called spaghetti-strait type whereby liquids may be squeezed from the absorbent mopping element thereof in manner to make it unnecessary to bring the hands into contact therewith.

In FiGS. 1-3, I have shown my device in operative position relative to a mop of conventional construction comprising a staff S and mop element M.

V Preparatory to. use, my mop wringing device will be sleeved upon the statf S of the mop as shown in FIG. 1, with the staff S of the mop passing in loose sliding man 7 ner through the handle 12 and'being' encircled by the half-ring jaws 2i) and 22, and with the yoke 10 extending downwardly along the staff in spaced, parallel coplanar relationship thereto. V i V V In the wringing operation, the operator will grasp handle 12 and move the device downwardly relative to staff S in the direction of the arrows a in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 2 is illustrated the device in mop-wringing position, with the half-ring jaws 2t) and 22 encircling and firmly gripping mop element M as the device is moved in its downward path. During movement to the position of FIG. 2, the device may be turned about its own axis while the mop is held against rotation, or vice versa, so as to allow a squeezing of the mop by a twisting action, ifdesired. It will be observed that one of the half-ring jaws abuts one of the ring extensions 24 and 26 at a time 7 whereby any unwanted rearward movement of the jaws during the wringing operation is precluded.

After the half-ring jaws have been moved the the lowermost extremity of the mop-element M, the y lie 10 and its component parts may be removed from the mopby exerting an upward pulling force upon the handle 12 to move the mechanism in the'direction of the arrow b in FIG. 3 whereupon the half-ring jaws 20 and22 are moved to the opened position, pivoting upon the end portions 36 and 38 of ring extensions 24 and 26 respectively. j

After the jaws have cleared mop element M, they will be returned to closed position by the force of coil springs 40, whereupon the mop-wringing mechanism may be completely removed from the mop or may be moved downwardly once again over mop-head M to insure that all moisture has been extracted therefrom. V

More normally, after a scrubbing or mopping operation, the mop component will preferably be drawn inwardly within the structure as within a housing and will be left in that position while the device is no't'in use, so that the same will not become unduly soiled by dust or dirt accumulations thereon during the period-0f such disuse.

If desired, the mop-wringing mechanism may be withdrawn or retracted from the intermediate position shown in FIG. 2, by exerting an upward pulling'force upon the handle 12, whereupon the half-ring jaws 26 and 22 are moved to the opened position. it will be observed that this action is made possible through the novel pivotal, spring-loaded construction of the half-ring jaws, which action is not possible if a solid ring construction is utilized.

It will be further understood that the mop-wringing mechanism hereof may be formed as an integral part of the staff or" the floor mop, if desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention. v 7

Without further description, it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course parting from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself or" such varia tions and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A mop-wringing mechanism for a mop including a staff carrying a mop element at one end thereo-t and comprising, a tubular handrip adapted to be sleeved upon and sidable relative to the stafi or" the mop, a yoke including a pair of parallel contiguous longitudinally-extending frame members spaced from and disposed outwardly of the stafl of the mop, the frame members of said yoke forming an annulus at one of their ends for encirclement around and securement to said hand-grip and having laterally-outwardly extending ring extensions at the other of the ends thereof, a spring-loaded jaw in the form of a half-ring having outermost free ends and being pivotally mounted intermediate the free ends upon each of the ring extensions of the frame members of said yoke, said jaws being movable between a normal closed wringing position with the free ends of one of said jaws being disposed in overlapping ring-forming relationship with the free ends of the other of said jaws and an opened non-wringing position with the free ends of one of said jaws being spaced from the free ends of the other of said jaws, said jaws being releasably retained in the closed wringing position by the spring loading or" said jaws with unwanted rearward movement of said jaws during the mop-wringing function being precluded by the abutment of o e of the halt-rings with its respective ring extension, said jaws in the closed wringing position being adapted for compressing the mop element as said yoke is moved in one direction longitudinally relative to the staff and adapted for movement into opened position and release from embracement with the mop element as said yoke is moved in the opposite direction longitudinally relative to the staff.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,084,366 Vosbikian et al. Apr. 9, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 314,730 Great Britain July 4, 1929 589,192 Italy Feb. 27, 1959 

